Heading to college is a very exciting time in most people’s lives. It is often the first experience we have for freedom away from our parents and the chance to be responsible for ourselves. We have the opportunity to experience so much academically, socially and to really find ourselves. It is a wonderful experience.
It can also be a very dangerous and traumatic time as well if you are not careful. Predators are often looking to exploit the innocence of young women on campus. Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are more likely to be raped than any other age group. In fact, the Department of Justice conducted a study that found one out of every four college women polled was sexually assaulted within four years at college. Additionally:
- 62% of college rapes are committed by classmates and friends
- 2.8 % of college women are raped in the first 6 months of college
- 40% of rapes will occur in your own home or dorm, 11% near your residence and 11% at or near a friend’s home/dorm.
- Over 80% of rapes go unreported and less than 5% of rapists spend anytime in jail.
The easy access to alcohol and drugs are also a recipe for disaster. It is estimated that at least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs when they assaulted their victims. Lines also get blurry at parties where both the man and woman are drinking and date rape drugs are very common on college campuses.
The long term effects of an assault can be long term and devastating. Victims of rape often manifest long-term symptoms of chronic headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbance, recurrent nausea, decreased appetite, eating disorders, menstrual pain, sexual dysfunction, and suicide attempts. In a longitudinal study, sexual assault was found to increase the odds of substance abuse by a factor of 2.5.
Victims of date rape are also 11 times more likely to be clinically depressed, and 6 times more likely to experience social phobia than are non-victims. Psychological problems are still evident in cases as long as 15 years after the assault.
This is why it is imperative to be proactive about your safety on campus and not have the mentality it can never happen to me. Follow these steps to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of assault at the university.
Prior to selecting or arriving to school:
- Request information on crime statistics from your school of choice.
- Go to the Department of Education’s site to check the status of campus safety at http://ope.ed.gov/security/
- Check with family members and friends to see if anyone had attended your campus of choice.
Upon arrival:
- Check the access availability to the residential halls. Can anyone enter the dorms?
- See if there is a residential aid, sign in requirement for guest, security presence, security cameras and emergency phones nearby.
- Get to know the security personnel. Ask about previous crimes on campus.
- Make friends with like-minded students and look out for each other.
- Survey the campus at night to see if it’s well lit, especially along walkways and around the buildings.
- Walk about the campus with confidence, display good posture and constantly be aware of your surroundings.
Dorm area:
- Be sure doors and Windows have strong locks. Always keep them locked at night!
- Never give out your room key or combination. If lost, replace your locks immediately.
- Be mindful of who you let in your room. Make a pack with your roommates not to let strangers in the room.
- Keep your cell phone on at night. Program security’s number in your phone.
Dating:
Although your primary focus should be on accomplishing your goal of getting your degree, if you do decide to date, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Don’t rush into any relationship. Take your time and get to know the person.
- If you do go out with him, tell a trusted friend his name as well as where you’re going and what time you’ll return.
- Go to a public place with lots of people present.
- Avoid wild parties and alcohol. Statistics show that over 70,000 students between 18 and 24 have been victim of “alcohol related” sexual assault.
- If you feel uneasy about the person, pick up the phone and contact your friend and let her know your feelings, then leave at once.
By taking these simple steps, you will make your college experience an enjoyable one without the risk of becoming a victim. Remember; awareness and avoidance is 90% of prevention!
